US Defence Secretary James Mattis to discuss North Korea threat on Asia trip

US Defence Secretary James Mattis to discuss North Korea threat on Asia trip

Tension has been high on the divided peninsula for months with Pyongyang staging its sixth nuclear test and launching two ICBMs that apparently brought much of the US mainland into range, while Trump and Kim Jong-Un trade threats of war and personal insults.

Mattis, on his way to the Philippines for security talks with Southeast Asian defence ministers, said he would discuss the “regional security crisis caused by reckless… North Korea” among other issues. (AP/File)

US Secretary of Defence James Mattis said today that curbing military threats from North Korea would be high on the agenda on his Asian tour this week, ahead of a visit by President Donald Trump.

Tension has been high on the divided peninsula for months with Pyongyang staging its sixth nuclear test and launching two ICBMs that apparently brought much of the US mainland into range, while Trump and the North’s leader Kim Jong-Un trade threats of war and personal insults.

Mattis, on his way to the Philippines for security talks with Southeast Asian defence ministers, said he would discuss the “regional security crisis caused by reckless… North Korea” among other issues.

At the forum, Mattis is also expected to hold three-way talks with his counterparts from South Korea and Japan –key US allies in Asia — before visiting Seoul for annual defence talks.

“We will discuss… how we are going to maintain peace by keeping our militaries alert while our diplomats –Japanese, South Korean and US — work with all nations to